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rephrasing

rephrasing

1 3.5
Putting something into different words to make it clearer
  • noun
  • /ˈriːˌfreɪzɪŋ/
translation icon : reformulación
  • I agree with Kevin WC that rephrasing makes the whole thing less awkward.

Examples

  • Remember that it is often a sign of incomplete understanding on the part of the child who does not know how to ask for clarification or rephrasing.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Repeating or rephrasing assures the patient that the doctor has understood the intended communication.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Somewhat different answers might emerge, however, with only a modest rephrasing of the questions:

    Academic text (1992)
  • We are dealing here with something more than a politician's rephrasing of a controversial belief.

    Blog text (15)
  • After the participants had reviewed the data, only two participants requested rephrasing of their included quotations.

    Academic text (2014)
  • If rephrasing of the response was necessary, the written form of the statement was read back to the individual, and affirmation was sought that the written statement accurately portrayed the interaction.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Clear language and rephrasing techniques should be used to guarantee that each juror has a clear understanding of and can explain, in his or her own words, what constitutes mitigating and aggravating circumstances.

    Academic text (2006)
  • I'll echo the sentiment of many past comments in saying that coming up with 100 reasons not to go to graduate school is splitting a few major, powerful reasons into myriad (and often repetitive) rephrasings.

    Blog text (8)
  • Rephrasing a complex idea can help others understand it better.

  • The teacher encouraged students to practice rephrasing their answers for clarity.

Synonyms

restatement
vsrephrasing
5 4.1

A different way of saying the same idea to make it clearer

is aimed specifically at clarifying or altering the original meaning
recasting
vsrephrasing
1 5.6

Changing the words of a sentence to say it more clearly

is aimed more at clarifying or changing meaning than merely reshaping form
rewording
vsrephrasing
1 3.5

Saying or writing the same idea using different words to make it clearer

is done to change wording with the aim of clarifying or altering meaning
paraphrasis
vsrephrasing
9.9

Saying something in different words to make it clearer

is often done to alter what the original message means
revoicing
vsrephrasing
  • Jargon
5.7

Saying someone else's words in a new way to make them clearer

is used more broadly across situations to alter meaning, not just for group sharing
reexpression
vsrephrasing
6.5

Saying or writing something again in a different way to make it clearer

is used mainly to change words for clarity or to alter original meaning
redescription
vsrephrasing
7.0

To describe something again in a new or clearer way

is used to change wording to clarify or alter meaning, not just to describe

Antonyms

20 1.0

Making another thing that is the same as the first, for example a photo or someone else's answers

How Different

rewriting
7 3.7
rephrasing
1 3.5
restatement
5 4.1
repetition
44 2.0

Surface Forms

rephrasing singular
rephrasings plural

Morphology

rephrasing = rephrase (transparent) = re + phrase + ing

Adding '-ing' to the verb 'rephrase' transparently forms a noun for the act or process.

Etymology

The word rephrasing comes from re- meaning 'again' and phrase meaning 'a small group of words'. So rephrasing means saying the same idea in different words to make it clearer or to change how it sounds.